Animated WiFi detector shirt keeps you single with signal

Life's great priorities -- human interaction and network access -- seem to exist in perpetual tension, but those of you who know exactly where you stand might want to check out this WiFi-detector shirt, which will simultaneously inform passerby that a WiFi network is nearby and that they probably don't need to speak to you. The detachable detector / display combo runs off three AAA batteries for "hours" -- just long enough for you to alienate the locals before heading back to your parents' basement. Scarily enough, it's already out of stock, but ThinkGeek should have more in a couple weeks for $30.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

[nate @ Oct 6th 2007 12:57PM]

"i'm nerdy in the extreme..."

[engadget @ Oct 6th 2007 1:00PM]

on the waiting list :)

[Jeff @ Oct 6th 2007 10:11PM]

Ok, am I the only one who noticed that the decal is removable? This might be a bit too much for most to wear on their chests, but I think it'd be a fun addition to a wardriver's ride.

[Khris @ Oct 6th 2007 1:03PM]

I wonder how long it'll take to get arrested wearing it at the Airport....

[moulles @ Oct 6th 2007 1:04PM]

Please wear to Bostan Logan Airport. Film at 11.

[Atanas Boev @ Oct 6th 2007 1:04PM]

Engadget should do the same wifi meter, but with the Engadget logo. Does not need to be on a shirt.

[Blackster @ Oct 6th 2007 1:18PM]

that's one for the übergeeks i guess, so i'll pass ;)

[Tony @ Oct 6th 2007 5:47PM]

I think it actually looks pretty cool. The fact that it's a completely random thing to put on a shirt makes it cool.

But, if it really does light up, like in the picture...

That's another story. Not to mention they could have at least made the blacks match (If you look closely there's a black square around the graphic.

[Tony @ Oct 6th 2007 5:49PM]

It would be pretty cool if it didn't light up. Random things on shirts are cool.

But, they could have at least made the blacks match (Notice the black square around the graphic).

[ilh @ Oct 6th 2007 1:25PM]

Been available on thinkgeek for a while now.

[Shermie @ Oct 6th 2007 3:41PM]

That says a lot that you already knew about the shirt. You just deemed yourself Supergeek.

[Spencer Smith @ Oct 6th 2007 1:33PM]

Sign me up!!!

[mushrooshi @ Oct 6th 2007 1:34PM]

Yea, allt he nerds at school already knew about this. Cool nonetheless, my moms gona get me one :)

[Khris @ Oct 6th 2007 1:41PM]

Nerd! :) LOL

[Tavis Veighey @ Oct 6th 2007 1:49PM]

I instantly thought of that Weird Al song, "White and Nerdy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbVtbc_XzrI


I may have to get one of them shirts!

[christopher Powers @ Oct 6th 2007 1:56PM]

And my son is one of the many who wants this for Xmas...among many other things I am sure.

[derek @ Oct 6th 2007 2:20PM]

"among many other things I am sure."
Apparently one of those isn't a girl friend.

[Ellianth @ Oct 6th 2007 4:03PM]

And how would he/she get his son a girlfriend for christmas? Only way i can think of is kidnapping some girl and forcing her into a life of servitude.. but that's kinda illegal.

[christopher Powers @ Oct 6th 2007 6:04PM]

And besides, my son is 12...a little young for such things... :)

[Khris @ Oct 6th 2007 6:33PM]

Evidently you don't know what 12 year olds think about in today's world.

[Feb30th @ Oct 6th 2007 2:05PM]

I actually think the shirt is pretty cool... and nice looking too!

[Grey Acumen @ Oct 6th 2007 2:14PM]

I'll admit, I want this, though I wouldn't mind something a bit less obtrusive, like a watch.

[Ayle @ Oct 6th 2007 2:18PM]

I think they should have gone for a ripple like design( concentric circles )it gives you more discretion.

[TeddyN @ Oct 6th 2007 2:54PM]

On the other hand it would make a good conversation starter in public :D

Although the scene has just popped into my head of a conversation involving a beautiful stranger and your tshirt, with things going seriously downhill when she asks 'what's wifi?' followed by a long geeky explanation of what it is :(

But if the woman is even vaguely technically minded or if she's a university student where campus wifi is very important, you just might get along :p

[9bit @ Oct 6th 2007 3:25PM]

But is it 802.11n compatible?

[AKBlade13 @ Oct 6th 2007 9:50PM]

If it is...it's an insta buy no questions asked.

AKBlade13

[Nestor C. @ Oct 6th 2007 3:36PM]

hahaha, great post, Nilay, you really made me laugh out loud... several times.

[Xzavier @ Oct 6th 2007 3:50PM]

Ya-know... I would really get upset if that shirt caught a better signal then the WiFi device itself!

[Neebs @ Oct 6th 2007 4:15PM]

I wonder if my school's amazing ability to block all signal will have any effect...

[Reader @ Oct 6th 2007 4:28PM]

Well I wouldn't wear it in public, but it sure would be interesting at some form of gaming/electronics/hacking conference.

[Dr Buzz0 @ Oct 6th 2007 4:33PM]

uh oh.... you know there are often wifi hotspots in airports. And we all know what happens when somebody brings something into an airport that either lights up or which has a purpose that is not immediately obvious and excludes it from even remotely possibly being slightly bomb-like...

[michas_pi @ Oct 6th 2007 4:37PM]

*wait for it*




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But, will it blend while playing Doom?

[The ZeroCorpse @ Oct 6th 2007 8:22PM]

BONUS! This shirt will also get you arrested in your local airport, or in Boston, for wearing a "fake bomb" and scaring people into thinking there's a terrorist in their midst!

[Kizorblade @ Oct 7th 2007 5:32AM]

Oh noes! He's a walking wi-fi bomb! Ruuuuuun!

[DannyBoyUK @ Oct 7th 2007 5:50AM]

For heavens sake, who actually needs that?

[John @ Oct 7th 2007 6:12AM]

802.11 :) Hopefullyz it auto connects to un-secure netwerks :D (uh with an ethernet port... i know.... not gonna hap)

[atrain @ Oct 7th 2007 12:09PM]

Is this just a stupid plastic display thats attached to the shirt, or does it have some flexibility and look somewhat natural.
(This applies to all their new animated shirts)

[Joey @ Oct 7th 2007 5:32PM]

Just perfect..its on my wish list..

[aboriginal @ Oct 8th 2007 1:01AM]

so, I'm guessing the douche detector's on the backside

[Bee @ Oct 8th 2007 2:43AM]

If people call you and ignore you as soon as you face them, you'll know why. :)

[Matthew Hilario @ Oct 8th 2007 12:13PM]

Watch out it's WIFIMAN! Please don't steal my bandwidth! GRrrr I blame Vista!

[Matt @ Oct 13th 2007 12:51PM]

I was thinking of taking it off and making it a skin for the top of my laptop and wiring it into a usb port, then I have a shirt out of the deal too

[asdf517 @ Oct 14th 2007 9:22AM]

Whoever wrote this article is a retard.